Mitt Romney and President Obama speak after the first presidential debate in Denver on Oct. 3, 2012. / Charlie Neibergall, AP

by Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

by Catalina Camia, USA TODAY

What if the 2012 election were held today? Mitt Romney apparently would be president, according to a new poll.

Romney would lead Obama, 49% to 45%, among registered voters in an ABC News/Washington Post poll released Tuesday. The findings are within the poll's margin of error, but pollster Gary Langer notes that Obama's support among registered voters now is actually 6 points lower than his showing in the 2012 election.

Obama's popularity has taken hits since the disastrous rollout of the Affordable Care Act and the website for health insurance exchanges. The president's job-approval ratings have hit new lows in several public opinion surveys, including the ABC News/Washington Post survey that shows 55% of adults disapprove of the job Obama is doing.

The poll findings are probably small comfort for Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who has made several TV appearances criticizing Obama's handling of the health care law.

In a recent CBS News interview, Romney said Obama's failed promise that people could keep their insurance plans if they liked them "was not accurate, it was not honest" and threatens "the whole foundation of his second term."